Putin Meets University Students in Kaliningrad

Model of the Kantiana campus under construction of the Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, which is being built within the framework of the national project "Science and Universities", taking into account the priorities for the development of the region, the focus being on medicine, IT, engineering, chemistry and pedagogy.

Readers might recall Putin had a short chat with one of the family members at the opening of the Year of the Family event who is currently attending this university, although I very much doubt his visit was sparked by that meeting given the intricacies of Putin’s schedule. Clearly, Putin has placed conversing with students and their teachers high on his to do list for 2024, which is a continuation of what he began is 2023. The ideas coming from young minds with their different perspectives seem to be what Putin’s after with these meetings as he insists they open up, be relaxed and frank in their conversations which often leads to Putin noting their suggestions. As the above caption suggests, Putin is also checking on the progress of one of Russia’s national projects during these visits, several of which he conducted last year.

As you see, Kaliningrad is more than just a city, but an entire Oblast, and has a very checkered history related to the exploits of various European powers over the centuries. But this is about Putin’s interaction with students, not Kaliningrad’s history. So, lets read what they have to say. All emphasis is mine:

Vladimir Putin: Dear friends, good afternoon!

The purpose of our meeting in this format is to congratulate you on your holiday, the Day of Russian Students. I congratulate you, all students of our country, postgraduates, teachers, and graduates. We all remember that we once studied at the university, at the institute, and of course, these are such unforgettable years

Now, when our country is actively developing, the world is in such a stage of fundamental changes, I mean not only the political sphere, the world order, multipolarity and so on, I also mean technological changes, the technological revolution, everything that is happening in the world around us – everything is fast, intense and interesting. It is developing. But in order to feel like a full-fledged participant in this process, you need to study well. Do not spare time for this, do not spare effort and be on the crest of always happening events.

Since 1755, on January 25, when Elizabeth Petrovna signed a decree on the establishment of Moscow University, then this date, as is known, was transformed, much later, into the Day of Russian Students. What does this mean? About the fact that our country has always paid great attention and attached great importance to the development of education over the centuries. Because, of course, the future of the state depends on the level of education, the level of technologies used, and the ambitions of each individual, region, or entire country.

That is why, especially today, when knowledge has acquired not some ephemeral, speculative character, but on the contrary, has become part of economic growth, part of improving the country's defense capability, preserving statehood, our traditions and the ethnic groups of the Russian Federation themselves – today everything is exactly like that, and the success and future of our state depends on education.

Education is an area that you are currently actively engaged in. I once again cordially congratulate you on the Student's Day and wish you every success.

You probably have some thoughts and ideas related to the educational process itself, what is happening at your university, and there is probably some exchange of information with your peers who study at other educational institutions. If you have any suggestions, suggestions or analysis of what is currently happening in the field of education, please, I will be happy to listen to you and if I can, I will respond. First. Secondly, we will certainly try to take this into account in our practical work on the development of the education system in Russia.

You are welcome.

L. Lazitskaya: Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich,

It's an honor to be here today to ask you the first question. My name is Lada Lazitskaya, third year, bachelor's degree, psychology.

Currently, I am the Chairman of the Student Council of the Higher School of Education and Psychology of the Baltic Federal University.

My question has two aspects.

First. Now up to 70 percent of school leavers are becoming students, the number of budget places is increasing, and state support measures for Russian students are being implemented. But it is also important that now, in fact, the presence of a higher education diploma has become a default requirement for employers, even for those vacancies where it may not be necessary. Do you think everyone needs a higher education?

And the second point. Now there is a lot of talk about digitalization, artificial intelligence, and many courses and new modules are being introduced in universities. What universal competencies do you think students should have in order to remain in demand in the labor market?

Vladimir Putin: As for the employers' default higher education requirement. You know, I don't see such a requirement, I don't feel that employers have such a requirement. In society as a whole, it seems that this is coming.

Ten years ago, in my opinion, 50 percent of graduates believed that they should get a higher education, now-more than 70. And the number of parents who believe that a child should get a higher education has increased many times. And people really do have such a need – to get a higher education. This, of course, is also supported to a certain extent by the state's policy, because we are constantly increasing the number of budget places.

By the way, when I was getting a higher education, in the Soviet Union, this is the desire to get a higher education – I can't give these percentages now, I don't know how to relate this to the current situation in the Russian Federation – but then the desire to get a higher education was very high. I myself come from a working – class family: both my mother and father are working-class people, but they tried at all costs to create conditions for me to get a higher education. This was the general mood in society.

Now we see that interest in higher education is clearly growing. What's really going on? In production, especially now, in our days, a very important role is played by people of highly qualified workers. Until recently, it was hard to imagine that a person who is called a worker operates some complex machine tool-CNC [numerical program control] is still okay, it is even more difficult to perform – or do some things in the chemical industry, biology, pharmaceuticals, and so on. And now it's becoming the norm.

Therefore, for production, it is not really so important whether a person has some kind of "crust" about higher education or not. But, of course, higher education creates certain advantages, by the way, and in terms of salary, too-yes, yes, this is a fact. There is such a bonus, it is considered a bonus for education: if a person has a higher education, then the employer immediately raises the bar.

Although in some areas of activity and in working professions, the level of wages is quite high today. For example, a KRAZ driver in some jobs where such large equipment is used, the salary starts from 200-300 thousand – decent for today. The same workers who manage complex machinery, CNC machines and so on – also somewhere from 100-200 thousand.

But it's not just about wages, although this is important, without any doubt. The question is that a person should feel-and now I will come to the most important point, and I will try to answer your question-that a person should feel that he is doing what he loves and is achieving results. That's the most important thing, you know? If a person does what they love and is successful in this business, they are happy. We should strive for this. [Follow your Bliss.]

And the most important thing, in my opinion, is that no matter what a person does in particular – I have already said many times and all specialists in the field of education, ask your rector Alexander Aleksandrovich [Fedorov], he will tell you the same thing-the most important thing today is to be able to constantly improve your level of education. This should become the norm: there can be no statics in these issues, otherwise we instantly start to lag behind.

Something like this.

L. Lazitskaya: Thank you very much.

Vladimir Putin: Someone else, please? I ask you to.

Maria Kolyagina: Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich,

My name is Maria Kolyagina.

Vladimir Putin: I'm sorry, Masha, please.

(To L. Lazitskaya.) You asked about universality. Fundamental knowledge, of course, first of all makes it possible to acquire this quality of education. Because if a person has such fundamental knowledge that at first glance is not very necessary – mathematics, physics, chemistry-then it is much easier for him to switch to some related activities within the same subject. It seems to me that this is the most important thing.

(To M. Kolyagina) I'm sorry, please. I ask.

Maria Kolyagina: I represent the Baltic Federal University, I am a first-year student in Chemistry. This is a basic higher education program implemented as part of a pilot project to test new levels of higher education.

Thanks to this program, in the near future BFU graduates will have different qualifications – from a chemical technologist to a research chemist. This means that in a few years, people with different types of diplomas will enter the labor market.

What do you think our employers should focus on in the future when considering candidates with diplomas of different types of higher education? Is it necessary to work out the system of matching levels in a special way, thereby making life easier not only for our future employers, but also for applicants, students, and graduates of previous generations?

Vladimir Putin: This is important for you, because your university is included in the universities where we are starting this experiment to switch to a new education system. This was done by the relevant Decree and law. But it was made on the urgent recommendations of people who work in this field, in the expert community, and so on.

Now I won't talk about the reasons, it's easy to read. Open the Internet – how the discussion was conducted, what we came to. Basic education – 4-6 years, then specialty-2-3 years, and a separate direction is postgraduate study.

The expert community came to the conclusion that this provides an opportunity to better immerse yourself in the future profession and creates an opportunity for flexible education, depending on how and what is changing in the labor market. This is the whole point of the transformations that are envisaged by this process.

At the same time, of course, there will be no discrimination against those people who have already received bachelor's degrees and so on. All these documents will be absolutely equal when applying for a job and during further activities. But I have already said that the most important thing is to prove yourself as a good specialist.

And the second thing, which was also mentioned just now, is to be able to learn constantly. Therefore, I hope that there will be no problems in this regard. We will gradually, gradually – precisely smoothly – switch to this new system. So no one will have any problems.

Please, please.

Olga Varzanova: Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich,

My name is Oksana Varzanova, I am a third-year student at Kaliningrad State Technical University, majoring in Industrial and Civil Engineering. At the moment, I hold the position of chairman of the Yantarny Knizhar student sports club.

A large, modern university campus at the Baltic Federal University is currently under construction. Can you tell me if it is possible to make it so that students from other universities can visit this campus?

Vladimir Putin: And not only universities. Now only Alexander Alexandrovich was talking, and I listened carefully, but I didn't tell him anything. He told us what we were planning. This is how everything is implemented here.

It will be a fairly large campus. It will fit into the urban environment – it is practically in the center – both architecturally and infrastructurally. It is assumed that it will be attended not only by students of your university. This is an interesting, complex environment where you can study, meet someone, get additional knowledge, and live.

We have planned 25 such campuses by 2030. Now eight are under construction. First stage-17: we selected 17 projects across the country from the Far East to you, to Kaliningrad. 17 have been selected, eight are already being implemented, and nine more are being prepared. At the first stage, in my opinion, funding has been allocated somewhere under 300 million, and work is already underway. And select regions.

Anton Andreevich, how much did you allocate?

A. Alikhanov: We have allocated 100 million rubles for designing ahead of schedule, knowing and understanding that there will be such a program. And a billion rubles (500 million each this year and next) for scientific equipment that will fill the laboratory and academic buildings.

Vladimir Putin: So everything is designed in such a way that not only students of the relevant university can use all this, but also students of other universities, and even not only students, but also residents of the surrounding regions, and in general the city, in this case Kaliningrad. This means sharing the same sports grounds, libraries, swimming pools, and so on.

But, of course, security issues should be resolved (Alexander Aleksandrovich [Fedorov] said, I heard), but this is also not difficult in modern conditions, and there are ways to register people, it's all easy to do, everything can be organized electronically. Of course, it should be a barrier-free environment for people with disabilities. Everything is provided for, and it will be so.

What kind of sports do you do?

Olga Varzanova: I'm a cheerleader.

Vladimir Putin: With what?

O. Varzanova: Cheerleading. A support group.

Vladimir Putin: This is also a sport, right?

Olga Varzanova: Yes.

Vladimir Putin: Who do you support? What kinds of sports?

O. Varzanova: We support our athletes in KGTO at all competitions. We come, support them with pom-poms, and cheer for them.

Vladimir Putin: It's clear. This is a good thing.

I ask you to.

A. Kartuzova: Good afternoon!

I'm Anastasia Kartuzova. Student and activist of the Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University.

Let's return to the new levels of our education.

Now my university is developing new teacher education programs, and I, as a future teacher, take part in their development as a student. So we think a lot about what a teacher should be like, what competencies they should have, and what we can do to become such teachers and teachers of the future.

So that's the main question. What do you think is the main task of a teacher-education, transfer of knowledge or, perhaps, transfer of culture in its broadest and most complex sense?

Vladimir Putin: What do you think?

A. Kartuzova: We believe that everything should be together.

Vladimir Putin: You know everything. Why do you ask? You know everything.

A. Kartuzova: Suddenly you have a different opinion. Something to a greater extent, perhaps.

Vladimir Putin: You know our classics, you know them all, I don't remember who exactly said it, that the main task of a teacher is to bring up happy people. But he said: "Educate". I don't remember whether it was Sukhomlinsky or one of the classics. That is, our classics put education at the forefront. I have already said it publicly, and I can repeat it. Once, in a conversation with the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, I also heard about the same thing from him. He said: "You will give knowledge, but education is what is important."

But I'm still leaning closer to your point of view. Everything is important in the aggregate, because education is impossible without knowledge. On the basis of what to educate, if not on the basis of our cultural and traditional values? How can you educate a person without giving them knowledge about who they are, what kind of country they live in? What is its history? What are we proud of? Is it possible to raise a happy person who has not found himself in the profession, in life and can not achieve results in his work? So it seems to me that you are right, all this is important in the aggregate. It seems to me that this is the way to act: education, knowledge, culture.

Anna Kartuzova: Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: We are like-minded people.

You are welcome.

Alexander Menshenin: Mr President, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Alexander Menshenin, I am a first-year postgraduate student at Kaliningrad State Technical University in the field of Ichthyology, Department of Aquatic Bioresources and Aquaculture.

Vladimir Putin: How?

A. Menshenin: Ichthyology.

A. Kochina: Vladimir Vladimirovich, my name is Anastasia Kochina, I am a second – year master's student at the Department of Food Technology of the Technical University.

Alexander Menshenin: We are a young student family. It so happened that we met thanks to an incentive trip from our university for active students. This, by the way, was carried out within the framework of the regional program "We are Russians".

Our unbreakable union has allowed us to develop more efficiently, we have become more active in taking part and even winning various competitions and projects. One of the most important projects for us was the All-Russian student project "Your Move". Just today we launched the fourth season of this wonderful project, which allowed us to invest and buy our own family housing. However, not all students, especially full-time students, can afford to combine, first of all, study and start a family, and even more so take an active part in various competitions and projects, and contribute funds to purchase their own housing. I think housing is one of the key factors in starting a family and having a child.

A. Kochina: Not all dormitories in our country are designed for cohabitation of student families. It is necessary to form student family blocks in dormitories, playgrounds, children's and changing rooms, places for storing strollers, ramps, including on campuses near educational and scientific infrastructure.

Alexander Menshenin: Mr President, it might be very symbolic to introduce new support measures for student families in the Year of the Family. Will you support such decisions?

Vladimir Putin: That's what I do all the time.

First of all, it is really very important to start a family, I can't say as early as possible, but I will say this – on time. I'll explain why. There is such a pragmatic interest on the part of the state. No one knows what demography is, what the essence of demographic processes is. Now I have said it publicly, the cameras have recorded it, and demographers are going to attack me and say, "You don't know and keep quiet, but we know." In fact, they do not know anything, because it is very difficult to understand what is happening with the demographics, and they have a very difficult task, we must pay tribute. These are really complex topics and different answers to thousands of questions that arise in this area.

One of the versions: the more educated a society is, the more difficult it is to deal with demographics, because priorities change. A young woman first wants to get an education. In our country, 77 percent of the population wants to get a higher education, whereas 10 years ago it was only 50 percent, and now it is 77 percent.

So, first get an education, then higher education, then post-education, then take the first steps in your career, achieve some result. And everything is important, and everything is necessary, and it seems to be right. And this is called-deferred first child. You are all young women here, I don't know, not everyone probably thinks so, but on average, such thoughts begin to take shape, so the first child appears somewhere in 30 years. In Europe, this is approximately the case. And it is necessary to put it on its feet, put it on, put it on, and do something else. Then the woman needs to return to work, confirm her competence. I don't have the energy or time for the second one.

If two people produce only one, then the population size decreases. Even if two, it remains on the horizontal bar. And in order to ensure population growth, at least three children are needed in the family. And for this to happen, the family must be born early.

But, of course, it is difficult, and I think you are talking about it now, for young people, especially for a young woman – and you need to study or, if she has just started working, you need to work, and you need to take care of the child, and you don't want to lose your qualifications, your place of work. A lot of questions arise here. That's why we try to help young families first of all. We have recently introduced maternity capital for the first child. Why and for whom is this done? It is for families like yours – especially for young families. It will now be indexed and will amount to about 630 thousand rubles, plus for the second child – 860, in my opinion, thousand. Then a whole system of benefits for obtaining living space. Did you enjoy benefits when buying an apartment?

A. Kochina: Our parents helped us.

Vladimir Putin: My parents helped me - that's very good, that's great, but there are benefits. You have local and regional benefits. Why not take advantage of regional benefits as well? Anton Andreevich, which ones?

Alexander Alikhanov: Mr President, we have indeed introduced a system in the region to support, as you said, the birth of our first children.

Vladimir Putin: There's a lump sum, and you have monthly payments, right?

A. Alikhanov: To 650 thousand federal rubles, we are adding 345 thousand regional rubles (this year it is also indexed). Of course, there are also various one-time payments and so on – [only] a million rubles. Of course, you can't buy an apartment for a million rubles in the Kaliningrad Region, at least in the city of Kaliningrad, but [you can use it] as a down payment for further mortgages. And young families in our country also get a preferential mortgage for young families. Therefore, there is definitely an opportunity for a good initial payment.

Vladimir Putin: And the family mortgage works, and for young people we have a 6 percent mortgage, for young families. Despite the increase in the Central Bank's key rate, which means that the state will have to give more money, since the rate of commercial banks increases because of this, but we still keep this 6 percent. As the Minister of Finance reported to me, the amount of money that we will have to provide for subsidies has almost doubled. But we are doing it, we are not canceling anything, and we will continue to do it.

Of course, this is a question related to monthly income. In this regard, in connection with the holiday of the Day of Russian Students, I can inform you that I have decided to increase presidential scholarships to 30 thousand rubles, now the Presidential scholarship will be 30 thousand rubles. I know that the Government is also considering raising the level of scholarships, and the Government scholarship will be about 20 thousand rubles. So there is something to strive for – you need to study well.

And as for campuses. In the campus we are talking about, and in other campuses that I have also mentioned, 25 of them are planned until 2030, and all this is provided for: residential blocks for young student families, sports grounds, and playgrounds. And, of course, I really expect that not only 25 campuses. The Ministry of Higher Education and Science and the regions will respond accordingly and move up to this level. We will definitely do this.

Don't you have any children?

A. Kochina: We are planning to.

Vladimir Putin: You're some kind of bureaucrat. But it's a blessing to have children. You'll find out. This will be a good example for everyone else.

Please, please.

R. Macone: Hello!

Vladimir Putin: He looks exactly like a Kaliningrad resident. (Laughter.)

R. Makone: My name is Makone Rushikesh, I am a student from India, studying at the Baltic Federal University at the Faculty of Medicine in the sixth year.

I would like to thank you for the opportunity to study in Russia. In my homeland, the quality of Russian education is highly valued. I want to ask you how we can expand cooperation between our countries now.

Thanks

Vladimir Putin: Just now, returning once again to our conversation with Alexander Alexandrovich, the rector, he said with pride that the Indian diaspora is growing in our country and they are very happy about it – the leaders of the university and the region.

I can join this assessment because we have very, very good relations with India. They did not arise today – they arose many, many decades ago. Everyone is well aware of this, and I know that it is remembered in India: The Soviet Union was the country that supported India's struggle for independence and supported the establishment of Indian statehood, economy, industry, and social sphere in the first steps.

India has made huge strides in development, especially in recent years, under the leadership of Prime Minister Mr. Modi. His call "do in India" has been heard by many people, including in Russia, and we are trying to implement these plans together with our Indian friends.

Suffice it to say that the largest foreign investment – at least so far – in the Indian economy came from Russia: our company Rosneft invested $ 23 billion in the purchase of an oil refinery, a network of gas stations, a port, and so on. They also have a plan for the future: they want to build a factory and so on. Well, that's just one example.

We work in the field of high technologies. You are well aware of Kudankulam, which is our joint work with our Indian friends in the field of nuclear energy. We have already built several blocks and will continue to work, not only in the field of clean energy, but also in the field of scientific activity, in the field of scientific research, in this area, where Russia is certainly one of the world leaders. This is a generally accepted thing.

As for medicine. Yes, indeed, we have made quite good progress here, but our Indian partners and friends also have a lot to offer. The pharmaceutical industry in India is also developing at a colossal pace. It's all very closely related. And I am very pleased that you are showing interest in getting an education in Russia.

In general, India is developing at an amazing pace. India's GDP growth is 7.7 percent, which is one of the highest rates of economic development and economic growth in the world. And this is also due to the leadership qualities of the current Prime Minister: it was during his leadership that India reached such a pace.

India pursues an independent foreign policy, which is not easy in the modern world, but India, with a population of one and a half billion, has the right to do so, and under the leadership of the Prime Minister, this right is being implemented. This is not just, you know, a statement – it is important from the point of view of organizing joint work. Because it makes it possible to predict the actions of our partners in the medium and longer term. This is important in practical work: we can rely on the country or on the leadership of the country with which we cooperate, or it will make decisions tomorrow that do not even correspond to its national interests. With India, such "games" do not take place – I can tell you that. There is a tough, nationally oriented leadership of the country.

And it is developing rapidly in all directions. Already said, one and a half billion people, and the trend is growing. If in some countries the trend is decreasing, then in India the trend is increasing. India is a great culture, very interesting, diverse and vibrant. Russia is probably one of the few countries in the world where Indian films are broadcast on a regular basis on national television channels. That's for sure, I don't know any other such countries. That is, we have a lot in common.

We work within various international organizations: both such traditional global ones as the UN, and those born not so long ago, but are actively and rapidly developing, such as the BRICS. There are also several areas on the BRICS platform that relate to education and science. I don't remember now, but about 20 projects have been selected for joint work within the BRICS system. This also applies to India, and it also applies to Russia.

What do we need to do with you in the near future? In general, this is supported by the leadership of both the Russian Federation and India. What needs to be done – we need to resolve the issue of mutual recognition of diplomas and documents related to obtaining scientific degrees. I hope that this work will be carried out by the relevant departments at the right pace and we will resolve this issue.

Therefore, it will simply be easier for you to find a job in India, and it will be easier for our specialists who study in India – there are fewer of our students, but there are still those who study in India – to find a job in their homeland, in Russia.

We teach Hindi in our schools. In India, I know that interest in the Russian language is growing more and more, and many universities and schools also study Russian. So the prospects are very good. I wish you all the best.

Dmitry Sadovsky: Mr President, hello!

My name is Danila Sadovsky, I am a third-year law student at the Kant BFU, and I am also the president of the Kaliningrad branch of the Association of Law Students.

My question is as follows. The motto of our university, BFU named after Kant, is a Latin saying that Immanuel Kant in his work "The answer to the question: what is enlightenment?" interpreted as: "Have the courage to use your own mind."

How do you feel about this phrase and do you think that it can become a vector for the development of future generations?

Vladimir Putin: It is not by chance that your university is named after Kant, a subject of the Russian Empire, because as a result – as we know, you probably know all this well, probably you have already been told about it a hundred times, but for those who do not know and will listen and see us, I would like to remind you: As a result of the Seven Years ' War, Russia entered East Prussia, occupied Konigsberg, and East Prussia swore allegiance to the Russian throne. This was done by both students and teachers of the university, where Immanuel Kant worked all his life and was twice the rector of this university.

By the way, for some time this territory-for, I think, about six years, before Peter III – was part of the Russian Empire, and Immanuel Kant also taught Russian officers. Apparently, he taught them well. This is the saying that you mentioned, it translates a little differently, but I like this translation that you mentioned: "Be able to use your mind" is very correct. What can I say? So you need to strive for this.

In some countries of our neighbors, this thesis has been forgotten: everyone, many of them, in any case, live by someone else's mind, and this will not bring them to good and does not bring them to good. You need to be guided by these fundamental ideas and live, of course, with your own mind. You mentioned one of his works – he has fundamental things related to the study of time, space, and the field of knowledge as such, and they are very interesting.

And you probably know this: Immanuel Kant believed that it was possible to logically prove the existence of God. These are complex things that he wrote about, in terms of time and space, but they are very interesting and it makes sense to read and understand what he said, what he wrote, and what he thought. So sometimes a little fly away somewhere. Your rector is a philosopher, Doctor of philosophy. At the same time, philosophers say that philosophy is not a science. Doctor of what sciences – it is not clear. Maybe not a doctor of sciences, just a doctor of philosophy. This is a very complex area of knowledge.

Kant, of course – is one of the greatest thinkers of that time and of our time, a fundamental thinker. And his call to live with your own mind is very relevant today. That's what we try to do. For us, in practical terms, this means that we must-which means "live with our own minds" - the country must live with its own minds, the country must be guided by its national interests.

This doesn't mean that we don't care about the interests of others, because being guided by our own interests and achieving success means respecting the interests of our partners. We do so, but we will never allow Russia's interests to be ignored.

What do I mean? To the fact that Kant said this, formulated it, and you and I have the opportunity to formulate our current position on the basis of this idea exactly as I have done now.

You are welcome.

Dmitry Kosolapov: Hello, Mr President!

My name is Dmitry Kosolapov, I am a third-year cadet of the Baltic [State] Academy of the Fishing Fleet of Kaliningrad State Technical University. I have two requests for you.

The first concerns the World Ocean Museum. This is the largest scientific and historical museum in our region, which has its own pier and its own museum fleet. Since 2014, the museum has been creating the Planet Ocean scientific and educational center, and we would very much like to see its construction completed as soon as possible.

Second. The operational department of Kaliningrad State Technical University has two training sailing vessels – Sedov and Kruzenshtern.

Vladimir Putin: So what? Congratulations.

Dmitry Kosolapov: They allow cadets of marine specialties to complete their first internship. They could also play a historical and educational role during inter-cruise stops, but this is currently impossible due to the lack of an open berth. There was information in the media about the construction of such a pier in the Kaliningrad Sea Channel in the city of Svetly.

Is it possible to support the construction of this pier at the federal level with appropriate investments?

Vladimir Putin: First of all, you have a very interesting profession. It is, on the one hand, romantic, connected with the sea, but, on the other hand, and pragmatically there are interesting sides.

This belongs to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, right?

Dmitry Kosolapov: Federal Agency for Fisheries.

Vladimir Putin: Russia is one of the largest fishing countries in the world. Now we are doing more and more for the construction of fishing vessels of different classes. Now I won't bother you with what's going on.

Maybe you've heard about getting "keel quotas"? Haven't you heard? Well, never mind. It is important that fishing quotas are given to enterprises under their obligation to build vessels in Russian shipyards.

There are many other support considerations – fish processing on the shore (on our shore, of course), the transfer of products from the Far Eastern regions to the European part. There are also a lot of issues that need to be addressed. They are all fundamental and very interesting, and the work itself is interesting.

As for such vessels as Sedov and Kruzenshtern. You are absolutely right, of course, they can and should be used not only for competitions-although this is important, and we have repeatedly set records there and won first places in these regattas. These vessels are just right. Between these major international events, they need to be used. Future fishermen and sailors are practicing there, so I guess it means that it will be difficult to enter after the bridge is built, right?

A. Alikhanov: Yes, Mr President, these vessels are currently parked on the port's territory, and the access regime there is border and customs, respectively.

Vladimir Putin: Oh, is this a fishing port?

A. Alikhanov: Yes. Given the fact that we have a special economic zone, it is difficult to get there just like that. And the young man said ... yes, indeed, there were the first, let's say, estimates of where they could be moored, so that access was open to all comers.

These are really wonderful sailboats, it is very interesting to be there, there are also museums there, and it would probably be right to give everyone – both Kaliningrad residents and those who come to us – the opportunity to visit them. But so far, to be honest, we haven't moved any further than the pictures yet. But if there is an assignment, we will study.

Vladimir Putin: Let's see. It's a good business, and it will cost a lot – I think it will cost more than one hundred million rubles, maybe half a billion, maybe a little more. Because you don't just need to build a wall, you need to build an adjacent infrastructure, access roads, and so on. But you need to take a look. It is necessary that they are used, not standing somewhere where no one sees them. I agree. Let's take a look, Anton Andreevich, okay?

A. Alikhanov: Yes.

Vladimir Putin: Good. And, perhaps, we will try together: the region will invest some money, and we will give it from the federal budget. We'll see.

As for the World Ocean Museum. What are the problems there, I don't understand? We have allocated all the money. Where's the money, Anton Andreevich?

Alexey Alikhanov: Mr President, the funds have indeed been allocated, and thank you very much. This is a federal museum, and I think it is one of the top three most visited museums in the country: more than 55,000 people visited the World Ocean Museum during the New Year holidays. And in St. Petersburg, by the way, the icebreaker Krasin (opposite, in my opinion, the Mining Institute is also moored) is also a branch of the Museum of the World Ocean.

All the money has been allocated, and construction is underway. This year we have a federal customer named "Unified Customer in the construction sector". We have meetings with them every two months... well, let's just say we try to help them, because there are questions.

Vladimir Putin: What kind of customer is this?

A. Alikhanov: "A single customer in the construction sector – is a federal structure that controls construction projects.

Vladimir Putin: We will now hold a meeting on the development of the region.

A. Alikhanov: Yes, we will report back. We are finishing construction this year, Mr Putin, and it will be put into operation. Unique object "Planet Ocean".

Vladimir Putin: I know about this museum. And I also know that all the money has been allocated for this. It is unclear where the museum is located.

But we will now have a meeting on the development of the region, and the Deputy Prime Minister responsible for the construction complex, Marat Shakirzyanovich Khusnullin, will be there. Now we'll discuss it and specify the terms. In my opinion, Mir-1 is also located there, on which I once sank to the bottom of Lake Baikal. So God himself ordered everything to be put in order.

So we'll talk today. I repeat once again, since the financing is secured, the only question is to meet the construction deadlines. I hope everything will be done soon.

You are welcome.

Alexey Syrutovich: Hello, Mr Putin.

My name is Anastasia A. Syrutovich, I am a fourth-year student of the specialty "Economic Security" and I am the chairman of the Student Council of Kaliningrad State Technical University.

And I am the lucky one who finally received his coveted invitation to the World Youth Festival. I know that thousands of young leaders from 180 countries are coming to Sirius this year, and as you know, we should continue to work with them: maintain and strengthen contacts, create some joint projects, and support them so that they become the legacy of our festival.

I know that after the festival there will be regional events with foreign delegations. I would like to continue this cooperation in a different format. Therefore, on behalf of the Russian student community, we propose creating an international organization that would take on these functions. Please support our initiative.

Vladimir Putin: It's a good idea. We must, of course, think about it.

Only not even from 180, but 190 countries already. 300,000 people from 190 countries have already submitted applications, which is why this event promises to be so large-scale, powerful, and beautiful.

The Soviet Union and Russia regularly hosted such events of this scale. Some reformatting is taking place due to the current situation, but in general, as you can see, there are a lot of applicants. I hope that it will be held at a good, high level.

And you are right that it would be nice, because it is impossible to gather 300 thousand people every day, but some kind of constantly functioning general body that coordinates contacts, including those who want to come to us and will come, of course, would probably be in demand. I will definitely ask my colleagues in the Government to do this.

All? Please, please.

To.Penkov: Hello, Vladimir Vladimirovich!

My name is Kirill Penkov, a third-year history student at the Kant Baltic Federal University. I am also a participant in a humanitarian mission that was held in Severodonetsk, on the territory of the LPR, in the summer of 2023 on behalf of the Young Guard .

I was not only a Young guardsman, but also a volunteer. In volunteering, I was able to realize myself with the help of a friend who helped me find myself and develop in this area. By opening this "door", I was able not only to help and benefit society for free, but at the same time to make new friends and many other opportunities.

We, BFU students, actively participate in such humanitarian missions in the territories of the LPR and DPR. We help the wounded in hospitals, as well as distribute humanitarian aid to residents.

Today, we repeatedly encounter falsification of historical facts. You have repeatedly said that it is necessary to take care of the preservation of historical memory. Indeed, many projects have already been implemented and are being implemented in this area. For example, "Roads of Victory". Within the framework of this project, scientific conferences are organized, educational stands are set up, and various scientific films dedicated to the Great Patriotic War are shot.

Due to the fact that falsification of historical facts, as well as respect for history, is one of the most pressing problems of our time, we ask you to help with the initiative to create a military history center in the Kaliningrad Regional Historical and Art Museum and provide this project with all the necessary funds.

Vladimir Putin: One more time. Where can I create such a center?

To.Penkov: In the Kaliningrad Regional Museum of History and Art.

Vladimir Putin: This is an existing, functioning museum, right?

To.Penkov: Yes.

Vladimir Putin: That is, to create some kind of separate exhibition there, or what?

To.Penkov: A military history center is an institution that, on the one hand, is a semi-archive, where researchers could apply for research purposes to obtain information about a particular battle or battle, and on the other hand, for people who, for example, lost relatives and friends during the East Prussian operation. If, for example, they need to find documents about their relatives and friends, they could apply there for help.

Vladimir Putin: This is a very good offer. But I would like to start my answer with a word of gratitude to you and all those who are engaged in this work, because the support of those people who made such a difficult decision for themselves – they came to the referendum, voted in order to be together with Russia, and are still being attacked by the authorities, deprived and so on. And when they feel that the country is with them, and the country is with them, it is not only the allocation of money, although this is very important, it is not only the actions of our Armed Forces – of course, it is extremely important. But when this work goes from person to person, from heart to heart, there is no substitute, it is really very important. And I don't know exactly where you were or what you were doing, but it doesn't just require effort, it requires a certain amount of courage from any person, because all this is happening in close proximity to the conduct of hostilities, from the combat zone. That is why I want to express my gratitude to you, and to all your guys, colleagues, and girls who are doing this there, without any exaggeration. First.

Second. The idea of creating such a military-historical center, in this case, you propose to do it in a museum-a suitable place, of course, I think, is quite the right idea, we need to support it. Let's do it, if the Federation needs to do something, let's do it, but I think the governor will do it too… This is a regional museum, isn't it?

A. Alikhanov: The Art Museum, as I understand it, is probably most likely being discussed. Vladimir Vladimirovich, we are completing its reconstruction this year and putting the third floor into operation. Exhibitions are already planned there. I think there will be enough space there. Of course, we will do everything, and I will talk separately then in order to understand meaningfully what it is.

Vladimir Putin: I'll ask my colleagues in Moscow to join in and help.

A. Alikhanov: Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: And with the organization of this space, and methodically to help you do everything. If necessary, we are even ready to make a certain financial contribution to this work. Thank you for the idea, for the suggestion.

So, please, please.

Elena Kasatkina: My name is Ekaterina Kasatkina, I study at the Baltic Federal University, Higher School of Medicine, specialty "medical science", sixth year. I am also the regional coordinator of the All-Russian public movement "Medical Volunteers" in the Kaliningrad region.

I would like to add to the previous speaker in general about volunteering in Russia. I've been doing this since 2018 and I see how the movement scales thanks to the support that is being provided, for which I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of all volunteer movements to you. I would also like to add that at the moment more than 21 million people are volunteers in the whole country. And this number is growing every year.

As a result of the State Council, which was held in December 2022, you gave instructions to open social development centers - " Dobro.Centers". At the moment, 602 such centers have already been opened in 427 municipalities, nine of which are located in the Kaliningrad Region.

It is important that these centers continue to open throughout the country. This is also supported by the federal program "Region of Good Deeds". Thanks to it, the subjects of the Russian Federation can receive subsidies to support voluntary initiatives, including the opening of " Dobro.Centers". But, unfortunately, the program ends in 2024, and I really want to ask you not to let it stop.

Vladimir Putin: So let's do it.

Elena Kasatkina: Thank you very much.

Vladimir Putin: You know, you just said that 21 million people work as volunteers in the country. And indeed, in recent years, starting, perhaps, with the preparation for the Sochi Olympics and then further, further, and especially during the pandemic, the fight against the pandemic, coronavirus infection, the number of people who voluntarily, at the call of their hearts, help others, is growing exponentially. And this is very cool, because this is such an additional rooting of our national traditions and the character of the peoples of Russia, when people are ready to lend a shoulder at the call of their hearts, to support those who need support.

I want to say once again that during the pandemic - you are a future doctor, we know just examples of personal heroism-people actually went, helped others and passed away themselves in the course of this work, which, of course, apart from admiration, there are no other feelings here. Therefore, we support and will continue to support this work.

As for the social development centers and what you have said, of course, we will continue and do it. I think we keep a record of our conversation so that nothing is forgotten. I hope that it will not be forgotten, we will do everything.

Please, anything else? I ask you to.

K. Kolobova: Hello, Mr President!

My name is Kira Kolobova, a second-year law student at the Baltic Federal University.

The year 2023, which was declared the Year of the Teacher and Mentor in our country, has come to an end. Thus, the mentoring system has received a new impetus.

For example, at the Baltic Federal University, we are developing both a traditional mentoring system, where first-year students adapt to the university more easily and better thanks to undergraduates, and a system of reverse mentoring. This is the interaction of students, university staff and management in order to exchange experience and knowledge to improve professional and other competencies.

At our university, there are specific examples when students become mentors of teachers or even university leaders. I believe that this is a very interesting and promising area in modern realities, and I would like to hear your opinion on this issue.

Vladimir Putin: So you will go far! Do you have a mentor?

Alexander Fyodorov: Mr President, our reverse mentoring project has really started, and it has turned out that the mission of the university is a generational convention, inter – generational interaction, when not only the older generations teach the younger ones, but also the younger ones teach the older ones. For example, the Vice-rector for Youth Policy and International Education has an information technology mentor. This is a master's student who helps her get involved in relevant topics. This is what we are trying to replicate now, and it is one of the university's brands that is very important to us.

Vladimir Putin: Great! To be honest, I won't lie, I won't make it up, I haven't heard anything like this before. Mentoring in the other direction is certainly great, it's not just feedback, but also support, and help in this case to teachers. In essence, this is a statement of what students expect. This feedback, this mutual connection, is very cool. It's a good idea.

What should I do? I am ready to support you. I understand that this is already supported by you. If any organizational decisions need to be made, let's do it.

K. Kolobova: No, in fact, there is nothing that I would like to ask for.

Vladimir Putin: You just wanted to hear my position?

K. Kolobova: I wanted to hear your opinion.

Vladimir Putin: Yes, I agree, I absolutely agree with you, this is useful.

Mikhail Serazutdinov: Hello, Mr President.

Vladimir Putin: Good morning.

Mikhail Serazutdinov: Just in addition to the words of Kira Kolobova and our rector Alexander Aleksandrovich [Fedorov], I would like to mention the project that we supported here, just when Sergey Kiriyenko came – "Triathlon of Generations".

I want you to take a look at this project and expand its boundaries in some way, because our Baltic Federal student family and I were very worried about it, because our university is moving in this direction.

I would also like to mention the work of such dialogues as we are currently conducting with you. We meet regularly with Anton Andreyevich [Alikhanov] and our rector, Alexander Alexandrovich [Fedorov]. This greatly helps students to find themselves in principle, to make some decisions.

We had such a project in Kaliningrad – "Triathlon of Generations", which we represented on behalf of the students. It went well. It was a big celebration for the city.

I would probably like to present an idea, so that you can also look at it with your team, and make this project at the federal level. It is possible to somehow mix teams of students and teachers and choose the capitals every year, come together and conduct them. Games of the future will be held, the All-Russian Festival of Youth. That is, we have a vast Homeland, which should be used in all the cities that we have.

We really want you to watch this. Thanks

Vladimir Putin: You mean reverse mentoring, right?

Mikhail Serazutdinov: Yes, everything relates to this: both mentoring and the generational convention, as Alexander Aleksandrovich [Fedorov] said. Look at all this and pay attention to the project "Triathlon of Generations", which we had in the region.

Vladimir Putin: Good. I will talk to the Minister and the regional leaders. It's a good idea.

Please, please.

A. Starikova: Hello!

My name is Alexandra Starikova, I am a third-year history student at the Baltic Federal University. At the moment, I am the head of the student historical society "Albertina" – the same university where Kant studied and taught. I am also the winner of the fourth grant competition, which was held at our university, and my project "Just don't forget it" is aimed at popularizing the historical sites of the Kaliningrad region.

I would like to thank you for your assistance in developing the state-of-the-art museum and theater educational complex. Thus, a branch of the Central Music School, the Moscow State Academy of Choreography and the Russian State Institute of Performing Arts was opened. In June of this year, a branch of the Tretyakov Gallery will open its doors, which undoubtedly affects the development of our region, as well as attracting a number of specialists. However, do not forget about the legacy of the past.

In the Kaliningrad region, there are about two thousand objects of cultural heritage that need not only to be combined with modern buildings, but also restored. The whole point is that we do not have an educational program or an organization that would train specialists – architects and restorers. There are few specialists in the field who have licenses from the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, which can cause us to lose a huge number of unique historical sites. For example, Insterburg Castle in Chernyakhovsk can never be restored. Therefore, I would like to ask you to facilitate the opening of a regional school of architecture and restoration, as well as the possibility of opening such a direction at the Baltic Federal University.

Vladimir Putin: How nice that lawyers think about architecture and historical heritage.

A. Starikova: [I am a History student.]

Vladimir Putin: Ah, you are a historian, I'm sorry, I listened in. Well, yes, then it's according to your profile. But you are absolutely right, and we are trying to do this, probably not everything is still working out. You know, for many years there has been a constant discussion about what to transfer to where. These objects of cultural heritage of regional significance and what to do with them, how to create a legal framework for their maintenance and development. At the Federation level, they say: "The regions still have no money, we need to transfer it to the federal level, we have more financial resources, we will do it." And in the regions they say: "What will they see and hear there, in Moscow? Everything will be destroyed, they will not pay attention to it." And all the time we pass something somewhere.

With these endless arguments, of course, you can't forget about these objects themselves. And, no matter where they are located, in whose jurisdiction they are located, of course, you need to pay direct attention to them, primarily related to financing. But in general, there are enough universities in the country that train specialists in this architectural profile, which you mentioned.

In my opinion, God forbid that there are about 90 universities where such work is being done to train specialists in this field. But, probably, it is in demand here, because there is still such a storehouse of different trends and styles. There has been a lot in the history of the region, as you well know. There is both German culture and Russian culture, meaning that it was even part of the Russian state after all. Both Polish and Lithuanian.

By the way, we, unlike some of our neighbors, do not destroy anything, we treat everything carefully. And the fact that there are elements of German culture here, we carefully and carefully study everything and try to preserve it. Even in 2005, in my opinion, we named your university after Kant for a reason, also to emphasize the historical and cultural ties that connect us with Germany in this case.

By the way, it was I who suggested naming your university after Kant. We were here with the former German Chancellor, Mr. Schroeder, and then we agreed on this.

And so, of course, this center, which you [talk about], you propose to call it the center, it is in demand here.

We are nothing, unlike our neighbors, who destroy monuments to the heroes of the Great Patriotic War, and just Russian, Soviet monuments, monuments to Pushkin have already begun to demolish and so on. This, of course, is a tremendous ignorance and lack of understanding of where they live, what they do and what will follow, but we, I repeat we live and act according to completely different principles and laws. That's why we keep everything and will continue to do so. I consider your suggestion important, and we will implement it.

A. Starikova: In 10 months they have achieved excellent results in reconstruction. This reconstruction is possible with historians, because, for example, in the Vologda region, where I come from, there are about 80 specialists, and in Kaliningrad there are only 16 on the register.

Vladimir Putin: You don't sound very Vologda-like.

Replica: This is the third year.

Vladimir Putin: Third year, of course.

A. Starikova: That is why it is very important to synthesize the work of historians with architects and restorers, because, for example, the stucco molding and dining room of the Teutonic Order are very beautifully formed in this castle.

Vladimir Putin: Yes.

A. Starikova: I am currently studying, and soon we will go with the guys to Ragnit Castle, which is currently being reconstructed very well.

Vladimir Putin: We will implement your proposal. The offer is good.

A. Starikova: Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Don't you miss Vologda butter?

A. Starikova: I recently went home and ate.

Vladimir Putin: Did you bring it to your classmates?

A. Starikova: Yes. I recommend cranberries in sugar to everyone.

Vladimir Putin: Good. Vologda is famous for Vologda oil, not only oil. The region is actively developing now.

Please, please.

A. Sokolova: Hello, Vladimir Vladimirovich, my name is Anna Sokolova, I am a first-year student of the Central Music School – Academy of Performing Arts, Baltiyskiy branch. Just the institution that Alexandra was talking about.

I would like to express my gratitude for the unique opportunity for residents of our city to receive the highest level of musical education directly in the place where we live.

For example, I grew up in a large family. I would not have had the financial opportunity to go to the central cities of our country to study with leading teachers and musicians. Now in the branch, Moscow teachers invest a lot in my education. At the same time, I already work in the Kaliningrad Regional Symphony Orchestra, and I was lucky enough to work as an additional education teacher at my alma mater. As a teacher, I was given an office apartment, which is a huge gift for me, because it allows me to perform my professional and educational tasks at a higher and better level, spend more time on study, creativity and work. On my own behalf and on behalf of the future students of the Central Music School, I would like to say thank you for the incredible conditions that have been created for us, and for the great opportunities for aspiring young musicians in our country.

Vladimir Putin: We are creating four such cultural, large – scale and multi-disciplinary centers (the girl also mentioned this just now): Kaliningrad, Sevastopol, Kemerovo and Vladivostok. These are truly multi-specialty centers, which include both the educational part and the exhibition part.

Someone has already mentioned that in June, construction will be completed there in principle, the governor said, a branch of the Tretyakov Gallery, now they are working on exhibitions, and in June a branch of the Tretyakov Gallery will open. I think that other leading museums in the country can also exhibit there.

There are a lot of works of art in the storerooms, really a lot. Therefore, it will be very interesting, and there is no need to go anywhere, it is very important.

It is important that such regions feel part of the country, part of the cultural space, the historical space of the Motherland.

Here is the art of music. The school is already working, as we planned, and so will the theater. An opera house and a music theater are to be completed this year and next. I think that this will significantly change the cultural landscape of the region and people will feel like full-fledged citizens of the country, who, and whose children, can enjoy everything that will be created here. Where did you come from?"

A. Sokolova: I was born and raised in Kaliningrad.

Vladimir Putin: In Kaliningrad. Everything is clear. It's just that you said that you sort of moved here. You said "from a large family". How much do you have?

A. Sokolova: There are only five of us.

Vladimir Putin: Brothers and sisters, yes?

A. Sokolova: Four girls and one boy.

Vladimir Putin: The youngest?

A. Sokolova: Yes.

Vladimir Putin: I see, I figured that out. I wish your family all the best, success, friendship and mutual support.

What do they all do?

A. Sokolova: The most interesting thing is that all the children in the family received a musical education.

Vladimir Putin: Are your parents musicians?

A. Sokolova: Parents are not musicians, this is the desire of children. Now my older sister and I are still in music. The middle one, well, like the middle one-the second oldest, is now studying here, [receiving] a higher education in dentistry, and the remaining sister and brother are now taking final exams – the Unified State Exam and the OGE, so we don't touch them.

Vladimir Putin: Do you work in the symphony orchestra?

A. Sokolova: Yes.

Vladimir Putin: What do you play?

A. Sokolova: I am an academic drummer.

Vladimir Putin: This is a profession that allows you to apply your talents anywhere. I wish you every success.

A. Sokolova: Thanks

Vladimir Putin: How many musicians do you have in your orchestra?

A. Sokolova: There are about 30 leading musicians in our orchestra, which is a full line-up.

Vladimir Putin: No, but how many musicians are there in the orchestra?

A. Sokolova: Exactly, yes.

Vladimir Putin: 30 people.

A. Sokolova: Yes. From 30 to 40 people, that is, I mean the whole group.

Vladimir Putin: Is this a regional orchestra?

A. Sokolova: Regional.

Vladimir Putin: Well, yes, regional.

Anton Andreevich (addressing A. Alikhanov), we need to increase the number of musicians.

A. Sokolova: Yes, we are waiting for children to graduate.

Vladimir Putin: Such a classical symphony orchestra – 120 people. The governor is very fond of music. We just found out.

And where do you work, what kind of premises are there?

A. Sokolova: Do you mean the base?

Vladimir Putin: The base.

A. Sokolova: The orchestra's base is located at 13 Bakinskaya Street, which is a separate building for the orchestra. I know, I was told that the work started quite recently there, I was told that the building was damaged, and with the money of the musicians themselves, it was their personal desire, they restored everything themselves and created everything for their convenience. It is directly dedicated only to the orchestra.

Vladimir Putin: That's great. But a detached building is just the thing. Can you imagine a symphony orchestra rehearsing in a residential building? I congratulate you on this choice and wish you every success along the way.

A. Sokolova: Thanks

Vladimir Putin: But then, when the theater appears, it will be absolutely great here, it will be a full-fledged good theater at the level, and perhaps even better than world standards.

You are welcome.

Elena Rusinova: Hello, Mr President!

My name is Eva Rusinova, I am a 1st-year student of the Higher School of Medicine of the Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, majoring in Medical Science. I also received a secondary professional education and qualified as a nurse at the college of our university.

As a person who is directly connected with medicine, I cannot but note that in recent years a lot has been done both for the region as a whole and for healthcare in particular. I would like to express my gratitude for the creation of a modern cancer center in the Kaliningrad region.

Our university trains both general practitioners in the specialty and specialists of a narrow profile in residency, including oncologists. I hope that the cancer center will be able to provide us with a clinical base for practical training, as students really want it.

Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, have you already visited our new high-tech cancer center?

Vladimir Putin: I haven't been there yet, but I think we planned to go there.

We started this program-the construction and improvement of the material and technical base of oncological specialized medical institutions-in 2019. The sixth year has passed. In general, over the years, we have invested about a trillion rubles there, a decent amount of money – more than 900 billion.

You have built one of these centers. As the governor and I were driving in the car, we talked about this: I think there are 200 beds in the hospital, 300 visits a day in the polyclinic, and there should be good modern equipment. We'll come and see. Of course, this significantly affects the state of people's health, because the fight against cancer diseases gives results.

For Kaliningrad, this is doubly and trebly important, because the main high-tech assistance used to be provided to residents of the region either in St. Petersburg or in Moscow – mainly in St. Petersburg. And now there will be no need to go anywhere in so many directions. Both the specialists are cool, and the governor says that people are happy to come. So always, when a good center appears, good equipment appears.

You are already a medical worker, you have received training as a nurse and are now improving your skills. For doctors, as a rule, the equipment is very important, the conditions in which they work are very important. Living conditions are important, of course, this is understandable, but people want to work effectively and, if such conditions are created, move from Novosibirsk to smaller cities, when we started creating federal medical centers there. They are leaving St. Petersburg and Moscow.

Opportunities open up for professional growth, for administrative growth, and simply at the call of their hearts, people do it with pleasure when they feel that they can work with more people, invest their knowledge and soul in it. I am sure that this will be the case here as well. As a matter of fact, this is already happening, as the governor said. So congratulations.

Do you know what else is important? It is important that when such centers appear, the level of the healthcare system in the region as a whole immediately begins to increase. Other medical institutions are beginning to rise, as it were, and are trying to rise to this level. Of course, people are right to say: "Why should they? And we need to improve the conditions and supply the equipment." Everything is right.

But all the same, there is an immediate incentive to raise the level of other health care institutions. This is why it is important – it is important for the healthcare system as a whole in a particular region, in this case the Kaliningrad Region. I hope that you will feel it too.

Please, what else? I ask you to.

Sergey Polushkin: Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich,

My name is Sergey Polushkin, I am a 4th-year student of the Western Branch of the Presidential Academy. I am studying in the direction of customs affairs. I am also a representative of the student hockey club "West of Russia".

I have a question for you. How do you like the idea of creating a sports complex, such as" Hockey City", on the territory of the Kaliningrad region?

Vladimir Putin: I'm in favor. Moreover, hockey is a favorite sport in our country. What should be done for this purpose? And what is meant by this? "Hockey City," you said?

Sergey Polushkin: A multi-purpose sports center, such as it is in the city of Saint Petersburg. "SKA Hockey City", you may know.

Vladimir Putin: Just to make it clear, this is the largest ice hockey stadium in the world. I don't think that even in North America there is such a thing. Maybe Canada does, but I don't think it does. In Europe, exactly the largest, it is not to go to the grandmother, one hundred percent. And maybe in the world. One of the largest in the world.

Do you know what this is related to? As a person involved in sports, you understand that in order for such a sports facility to work effectively, you need a load. The five-millionth city of St. Petersburg can probably provide such a load. This is the first one.

Second. This complex was built exclusively with private money. Russian entrepreneurs implemented this project in the hope that Gazprom would join in. Gazprom has not yet signed up. Negotiations are underway, because initially they wanted to call it SKA Arena, and SKA is a team that Gazprom supports financially.

But the most important thing is not this, the most important thing is that the capacity and volume of this structure should correspond to the possible load. There is a load, so there is also a payback period. It's not just a matter of construction, although it is, of course, an expensive object-it costs many billions, but it is also a matter of maintenance. And to contain it, you need it to be filled in.

In St. Petersburg, there is a great interest in hockey, a lot of spectators go. I think that if you manage such an object correctly, it can be paid off. What does it mean to manage correctly? It's a whole industry. They didn't just come, they watched a hockey game and left. These are T-shirts, sneakers, shops inside, restaurants, cafes, some sections where people come between matches, the use of this room for concerts and mass events. This is an enterprise, a large enterprise that you need to be able to manage.

We didn't have any of them. But here, however, we set up quite a lot of stadiums before the World Cup. In general, I think they are well managed, including at the regional level.

But I'm not saying all this-I'm talking about difficulties – to say, " No, don't do it." It is necessary, of course. You just need to look at the location of such objects, based on the reality of where they are created and will function. Let's think and see.

Sergey Polushkin: Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: We need to look again. Together with the governor, we will think about who to attract from the business that works here, and maybe the federal government will also be partially involved. I need to think about it.

Anything else, please?" Don't be shy, please.

Dmitry Ivanekina: Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich,

My name is Daria, I am also a student of the Western Campus of the Presidential Academy and recently an assistant to a deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

I have such a question. We all know that the Kaliningrad Region is a special, exclave region of Russia. Today, there are some difficulties in the issue of transport accessibility.

We are grateful to you for the measures that are already being implemented at the federal level: ferry transportation, subsidized air tickets, which is especially important for us as students. But due to the fact that recently the region's tourist attractiveness has grown significantly, there is such a problem that there are not enough subsidized air tickets, they run out very, very quickly.

Vladimir Putin: In four months.

Dmitry Ivanekina: Yes, in four months – literally in April, starting from January – they are already ending, unfortunately.

What do you think about providing subsidized air tickets, if not for all residents of the Kaliningrad region, then at least add the category "Students", because today these are young people under the age of 23. I am 23 years old this year, and I understand that next year I will not have such an opportunity, unfortunately.

Vladimir Putin: We were just driving, and we were also discussing it. The Governor suggests making this subsidy not for everyone, but for certain categories of citizens – not for everyone who wants to come to Kaliningrad, or leave Kaliningrad, but only for citizens permanently residing here, including students. And then these 450 million will not end within four months, and of course, a much larger number of people who live here will be able to use it, and all categories-not to divide into any categories, but all those who permanently reside in Kaliningrad.

But on the other hand, remove these "flat" tariffs for residents of other regions of the Russian Federation, and remove them for all categories. That is, all this money, and we are currently allocating 450 million rubles a year, only for permanent residents of Kaliningrad. And then, of course, the number of people who will be able to use it will multiply.

The governor suggested that we consider this at a meeting today. This is one of the possible solutions to the problem. That is, in principle, of course, we need, first of all, to ensure the passage to the "mainland" and back of those who live here. Of course, this may somewhat reduce the tourist flow, as I think, because these preferential categories that now use this "flat" tariff, subsidized tariff, they also use it from all over the territory of the Russian Federation.

Even those who do not live here permanently. But 450 million rubles are quickly running out, and if this is done only for those who live here, then maybe the tourist flow will be slightly reduced.

But, I think, not really. I agree with the governor, but not very much, because he is constantly growing here. Just as the number of permanent residents of the Kaliningrad region is growing - already one million. The plenipotentiary said 1 million 99 thousand, right?

A. Gutsan: 1 million 34 thousand.

Vladimir Putin: 1 million 34 thousand have already become available. In other words, the population of the Kaliningrad Region has recently grown by 16 percent. This region is quite attractive. And I think that the governor is right: it is unlikely that this will seriously affect the tourist flow, but for people who permanently live in Kaliningrad, this is certainly a plus.

Dmitry Nikolaevich [Chernyshenko] got bored that the number of tourists will decrease, because Dmitry Nikolaevich is responsible for the tourism industry in the Government of the Russian Federation.

Dmitry Chernyshenko: Mr President, I dare to suggest that it will not be reduced, because the entire tourist infrastructure is fully operational.

Vladimir Putin: Then the issue is resolved. The governor is in favor, the Deputy Prime Minister is in favor. We'll probably do that. Yes, Dmitry Nikolaevich?

Dmitry Chernyshenko: Yes, I agree.

Vladimir Putin: Then, for residents of the Kaliningrad region, this will significantly affect the ability to travel, because then we will not adhere to any categories: by age, pensioners, students under 23, people with health restrictions-everyone living here will be able to use preferential rates. Now we still have to consult and make a decision.

Please, please.

D. Sadovsky: Danila Sadovsky. I want to put one more question on the agenda. I am very pleased to hear your position on increasing the size of the scholarship.

Vladimir Putin: A student?

Dmitry Sadovsky: As a student, yes.

Vladimir Putin: Increasing the scholarship, right? Well, of course it's nice.

D. Sadovsky: Government and Presidential Scholarships. As a representative of this category of individuals, I would like to express my gratitude for this opportunity to receive this scholarship. In principle, this scholarship is considered quite authoritative and prestigious, the very fact of receiving it rather raises the status of the student himself.

Vladimir Putin: Are you getting a presidential scholarship?

Dmitry Sadovsky: I get a government license.

Vladimir Putin: Also not bad, 20 thousand will be.

Dmitry Sadovsky: The issue has now been partially resolved. There was a request for the amount. I talked to representatives of the same ones who receive this scholarship, and there is a question. Do you think there is any way to create a procedure for awarding this scholarship in a solemn atmosphere? Because, as I know, it is not provided.

Vladimir Putin: I think you're right. Of course, it's nice to get a little more money than everyone else, but that's not even the point, although it's important, it should be prestigious, it's the result of a person's work. If you do it solemnly, but not every time, of course: "Here's 20 thousand for you. Here's 20 grand for you. Here's 20 grand for you." And the fact that a person receives a government or presidential scholarship should be noted, I agree.

Dmitry Sadovsky: I would like it to be personal, pleasant, emotional, memorable, and solemn. After all, the scholarship is really high-level, and everyone appreciates it.

Vladimir Putin: We already know what you're getting, and now we know what you're getting.

Dmitry Sadovsky: Everything. Thank you very much.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you for your success.

Please, please.

Dmitry Svetocheva: Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich,

My name is Daria Svetocheva, I am a student of the Western Campus of the Presidential Academy, and also a deputy chairman of the Russian Youth Union of the Kaliningrad region.

And I would like to tell you about the fact that in our region Kaliningrad students have the opportunity to complete an internship in regional authorities. Students of our Presidential Academy have repeatedly proved that this is the beginning of managerial experience. And we have such an idea and wish, perhaps the dream of some of us, to do such an internship and the same project at the federal level, so that the best students of the country can get an internship in such positions in the Government, in the Administration, and so on, because I personally, for example, dream of it. It seems to me that some of us, especially those from the direction of "State and Municipal Administration", in which I study at the Presidential Academy, also dream of this.

It seems to me that this will be a very good rapprochement practice, just like reverse mentoring, just like here.

Vladimir Putin: It seems to me that this practice exists. But if you didn't have it, let's do it right.

What is the name of your school?

D. Svetocheva: Western Branch of the Presidential Academy.

Vladimir Putin: Well, I did not accidentally ask again, but, of course, this should be formalized accordingly in relation to practice. Will do.

Thanks

Vladimir Putin: Yes, please.

Pavel Akimkin: Mr President, hello.

My name is Akimkin Pavel Ilyich. I am a fourth – year Mechanical Engineering student. Various questions were raised, but, unfortunately, questions related to students of the engineering class direction were not raised.

I have quite a large number of friends and acquaintances who are currently studying at higher educational institutions, such as the Mining University, Moscow State University, St. Petersburg State University and others. But, unfortunately, the interest of my friends in their specialty decreases every year due to the fact that they are still not satisfied with the salary to a greater extent.

Pilots of an Airbus plane can earn 100,000 rubles, while a chief engineer or even an average engineer receives a salary of 60 to 100,000 rubles, while a taxi driver in Moscow earns 100 or more. Why is this happening?

Vladimir Putin: As for pilots, this is due to the fact that at Airbus or Boeing we once had to attract specialists from the international labor market, those who feel comfortable at the helm of Boeing or Airbus, and the corresponding prices on the international labor market. The same, say, "Aeroflot" could not attract these people if it did not pay them the appropriate money. It's just a practice that has developed like this. This is not because Aeroflot wanted to pay such a salary, such a level, but it was simply impossible to do otherwise.

Now the situation is slowly changing. But as for, say, taxi drivers in Moscow or engineers. This is regulated by the market. It is unlikely that a good engineer, even if he gets a little less than a taxi driver, will want to work as a taxi driver. This is very important – the salary, the level, I agree with you, but if a person has received a good education and he, for example, works in a large Russian company, then his salary level is decent. I'll give you a concrete example – I won't mention my last name or anything, but I do know that people who even move from, say, North America, the United States, or Europe start earning more here in our companies than for the same work there, taking into account the level of taxation. The employee's real income is higher than there.

Of course, this is not the case everywhere, not in all industries. What I said is relevant to our leading energy companies. But wages are also rising in the IT sector, and so on. This is basically regulated by the market. We are trying to support people who work in the public sector, in the field of education, healthcare, and there are appropriate solutions to ensure that their wages are not lower than the average for the economy in the region.

All these decisions have been made, but they, of course, require constant adjustment. I would like to note that the level of real wages in our country increased more than inflation last year, and it is higher than inflation. And the level of real disposable income of the population has also grown. Therefore, we cannot regulate this level in the economy here, it is regulated by the market, but of course we need to support people who work in social spheres. I would like to do even more, and first of all, believe me, and we will do it, of course, based on how the economy is developing, how budget opportunities are being built, but we will do it without fail.

And we will raise the minimum wage, starting this year it will be significantly increased, and this, in turn, affects all other payments, including social benefits. In other words, in general, compared to other years, the real income of the population and the level of real – I want to emphasize – real wages have grown higher than in previous years. But I agree with you: where key development issues are being addressed – artificial intelligence, IT technologies, genetics, etc., or, say, in the music sector – people, I will say directly, in order to maintain a certain level, are forced to earn basic money by tutoring. Is this correct? No, but it requires constant attention and improvement of the forms of remuneration, and we will be constantly engaged in this. And engineering is very important and key today. But here, too, in large companies, revenues are still growing at a fairly good pace. It is important, of course, to find your niche. And the fact that you need to pay attention to these issues is obvious, you are right.

Can I ask you something? Why are you in a military uniform?

Pavel Akimkin: I'm sorry about the uniform.

Vladimir Putin: There is no need to apologize. Conversely.

Pavel Akimkin: I am a student of the military training center of the BFU named after Kant. I put on the uniform, as they said, a ceremonial appearance is necessary. Unfortunately, I didn't find anything more formal than a military uniform in my wardrobe

Vladimir Putin: Mining, right? Ah, engineering.

P. Akimkin: Mechanical engineer.

Vladimir Putin: It's clear. The most important area, mechanical engineering is very important. We missed a lot in the previous section, mechanical engineering is extremely important, especially modern mechanical engineering.

Thanks Good luck to you.

Pavel Akimkin: Thank you very much.

Vladimir Putin: Please. Something else? Finishing up? We'll finish it, okay, slowly.

A. Kholov: Finally, a question from the students.

Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich,

Chairman of the Student Council of the western campus of the Presidential Academy Kholov Arsen. I have a question from students on West campus.

Our Academy is called the Presidential Academy, or RANEPA under the President of the Russian Federation. Tell me, in principle, how do you feel about this rather important, pompous name? And do you associate our Academy with yourself?

Vladimir Putin: I associate this with the interests of the state and with the training of personnel. This is the most important area of the country's work – training personnel in all areas: engineering and humanities, including music, literature, history, and management.

I didn't come up with this name, to be honest, but I think it should be attractive to a certain extent, because it seems to emphasize the directions of future activities, including in the executive authorities. This is an important area, and I wish you every success in your future work.

A. Kholov: Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much for this conversation. I was curious. I hope it was helpful to you.

Let me once again congratulate you on the occasion of the Russian Students ' Day and wish you all the best.

Thank you very much.

Again, another example of young citizens making concrete proposals that are outside the government box. Many insights into Russian culture and its modern development. The meeting with Kaliningrad’s governor and his ministers was mentioned to follow this meeting where several student proposals will be discussed further. Kaliningrad’s Governor, Anton Alikhanov, was 30 when appointed Acting Governor by Putin in 2016 and then elected in 2017, which at the time made him Russia’s youngest Governor. The reverse mentor idea works well with the right people and has always existed in an informal way. How it functions formally will be interesting to watch.

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